Aldershot Town 1-1 Barnet

An open encounter at the EBB Stadium ends all square as Lewis Chalmers' second half strike cancels out Michael Leary's fourth minute opener

Manager Gary Waddock was able to recall Dave Winfield to the starting line-up with Scott Donnelly also getting his first start since January's defeat at Brentford. Winfield partnered former Barnet player Anthony Charles at the heart of the home defence with Dean Howell playing out of position as a right back, with a licence to push forward. Lewis Chalmers, recovered from the injury he sustained at Dagenham and Redbridge, played a central midfield role with Donnelly with Kirk Hudson and Scott Davies wide.

Barnet made one change from the side that defeated AFC Bournemouth with Michael Leary replacing Nicky Deverdics, who he replaced as a late substitute at Underhill on Saturday.

Prior to kick-off captain Charles was presented with the Supporters Club Player of the Month award for March.

The visitors scored with their first attack to stunned silence from the home supporters. Former Luton Town midfielder Michael Leary was allowed too much room through the centre. He backtracked before angling a low strike into the corner that left Nikki Bull rooted to the spot as the ball crept into the corner of the net.

Aldershot responded well. Donnelly forced Bees keeper Jake Cole into a save from a 20 yard free kick as the QPR loanee stretched to parry the ball behind for a corner. Sandell, playing a forward role, stretched on the edge of the six yard box as Cole came out to clear.

Barnet are a confident squad at the moment with a recent resurgence that has ensured their Football League status for another season. Anthony Straker was caught out on 12 minutes by Albert Adomah who teed up Adam Birchall from 10 yards. The Welsh Under 21 striker snapped at his shot and was wide of the target.

It was a lively opening though with both teams capable of producing goal bound efforts. Hudson nipped in on the edge of the six yard box to guide Davies' deep free kick over the advancing Cole and inches wide of the far post.

The game settled down with neither keeper tested during the midway stage of the first half.

On the half-hour with Chalmers down injured inside his own half Aldershot broke quickly with Hudson latching onto a long ball on the left-hand side. He lifted an effort past Cole and wide of the far post. Davies produced a pile driving 30 yard free kick that was always heading over the bar.

Aldershot's best chance came on 35 minutes when Sandell played in Robinson on the right flank. The Brighton and Hove Albion loanee cut inside and may have been better equipped to have gone for goal but he provided a low centre across goal that was just too pacy for Donnelly to connect with.

Robinson was having joy in his position play but his final touch was letting him down. Chalmers produced another defence-splitting ball into the path of the striker who chose the direct route this time but his first touch was poor allowing Cole to come off his line to gather.

Bull had to be at his best on 41 minutes as Birchall collected the ball just inside the left-hand edge of the penalty box taking advantage of hard work from Yannick Bolasie. The first shot was saved point-blank by the home keeper from eight yards and the follow-up sauntered over the bar. Bolasie was involved again a minute later as Barnet broke quickly on the right allowing Birchall to guide an effort wide of the target at the near post.

Half-Time: Shots 0-1 Bees
Stoppage Time: 1 minute
Actual Playing Time:46:04

Louie Soares replaced Anthony Straker at the interval allowing Howell to return to the left side of defence with Soares slotting into a right back slot against his former club.

Aldershot were positive after the break kicking towards the East Bank. They nearly levelled within two minutes of the restart as Sandell battled well through the middle to see his shot blocked. The rebound fell to Donnelly whose ferocious left-footed shot from eight yards crashed off the underside of the bar and away from goal. It summed up Aldershot's recent fortunes.

The deserved equaliser did arrive on 50 minutes. Davies produced a lethal drive from 25 yards that Cole did well to take the sting out of only for the ball to fall into the path of Chalmers who calmly slotted home from eight yards for his first goal of the season.

Charles went close to scoring against his former club for a second time this season as his far post header from Davies' corner was expertly forced behind by Cole.

The home side were nearly caught out when they appeared a touch pedestrian responding to a Barnet counter- attack. At one stage the visitors had three players over. Barnet failed to capitalise on the advantage and Bolasie's shot from the right was kept out by the feet of Bull.

Referee Langford produced the first card of the afternoon much to the chagrin of the supporters and home bench as Davies appeared to make a fine recovering challenge on Adomah. The Barnet wide man was, however, stretchered from the field of play and replaced by Nicky Nicolau.

The experienced Paul Furlong smashed a half-volley onto the bar which had Bull well beaten; Birchall competed with Winfield for the follow-up header and Bull gathered on the line. Barnet though were playing with a better tempo to the match at this stage. Bolasie was becoming more prominent linking up play with the front men whilst Furlong was a handful to deal with up front.

However Aldershot have players who have the capability to produce on their day. Hudson nearly did so on 71 minutes when he cut across the edge of the 18 yard box before unleashing a fierce left-footed strike that forced Cole to tip over the bar under pressure.

Bull produced the save of the match on 74 minutes as he spectacularly tipped Ismail Yakubu's powerful header away from substitute Nicolau's perfectly weighted corner. Winfield then defended superbly controlling and clearing the ball on the edge of his six yard box under pressure from Furlong. Birchall sent a deflected shot wide of the target after more ingenuity from Bolasie on the right. It should have been a corner but not for the first time in the afternoon the referee's decision did not go as expected.

The opportunity was there for either side to nick a winner. Donnelly's long ball forward with six minutes remaining saw Sandell win one of many headers during the course of the match to set up Hudson but the final shot was pushed behind by the sprawled Cole.

Donnelly himself volleyed a corner clearance just over the bar from 20 yards as the ball looped at the final moment. Pressing for the victory Aldershot forced a succession of late corners.

However it was Barnet who nearly won the match in the final minute of stoppage time as Furlong stretched from eight yards to direct Kenny Gillet's cross from the left just wide of the far post.

Honours even at the end but a decent afternoon's entertainment on a sunny Easter Monday afternoon.

Full Time: Shots1 -1 Bees
Stoppage Time: 4 minutes
Actual Playing Time:50:23

Referee: Ollie Langford
Assistants: D Belbin (Yellow) T Mason (Yellow and Red)
Fourth Official: R Whitton

Attendance: 2597
Visiting Supporters: 327
Match Sponsors Airways Optical Man Of The Match: Lewis Chalmers